strike at (someone or something)

strike at (someone or something)

1. To direct a blow at someone or something. The boy struck at the bully with his fist. I began striking at the blockage with a metal rod, trying to dislodge it from the pipe.

2. To attempt to impair, disable, or discredit some part or element of something. By cracking down on the opium trade, the task force is hoping to strike the main source of funding for the dictatorship. Their campaign has been striking at the incumbent senator's position on tax reform.

See also: strike

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

strike at someone or something

to hit at or toward someone or something. She struck at him, but he parried the blows. The bear struck at the branch, hoping to break it and get at the honey.

See also: strike

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.